🦁 Otter
Playful semi-aquatic mammal of rivers and coasts; tool-user, raft-former, and a favorite of wildlife quizzes.
| Aliases | River wolf (lobo de río) |
|---|---|
| Alternate names | Lutrinae (subfamily) |
| Entity type | 🦁 Animal |
| Permanent ID | E033 |
| Parent topic | Nature & Wildlife |
| Wikidata | Q25416 |
| Wikipedia | Otter |
About Otter
Otters are the members of the Lutrinae subfamily — thirteen species of semi-aquatic mammals famed for play, tool use (sea otters crack shellfish on belly-stones) and social 'rafts' of resting animals.
Keystone predators of rivers and kelp forests, otters anchor ecosystem health; the sea otter's recovery from near-extinction is one of conservation's flagship stories.
Timeline
| 1700s-1800s | Fur trade devastates sea otters. |
| 1911 | International fur seal/otter protections begin. |
| 1970s | Sea otter recovery accelerates. |
| Today | Keystone species of kelp ecosystems. |
Famous Examples & Highlights
- Thirteen species worldwide
- Tool use in sea otters
- Rafts of resting otters
- Keystone of kelp forests
Relationships
| Habitat | Rivers and Wetlands |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lutrinae |
Parent & Child Topics
Parent: Nature & Wildlife
Opposite & Comparison Entities
No natural opposite recorded for this entity in the graph.
See Also & Related
Related Quizzes
Covered In These Guides
Full guides and practice quizzes: Bing Otter Quiz.